Sizergh Fell.

Start. Sizergh Castle.

Route. Sizergh Castle - Chapel Wood - Duke Plantation - Sizergh Fell - Lane End Farm - Ashbeck Lane - Sizergh Castle.

Notes. Too much wine last night, I woke this morning with a thick head, who cares the sky was grey, it was raining, I skulked around the house until mid day. My head was still throbbing but the sun was shining, the air felt crisp, I took this as an oman, a chance to walk off my hangover. I recalled seeing a walk from Sizergh Castle last time we dined in the cafe, I couldn't remember the route but a quick look on the web came up trumps. Come take a short ramble with us through the open fell, pastoral land and parkland of the Sizergh Estate, it should blow the cobwebs away and clear the head.

With me today Sue master navigator, she's leading the way south, out of Sizergh Castle car park through a large field along the edge of a dry stone wall, we pass through a gate into the next field, ignoring the arrows pointing diagonally through the field to our right we continue south, to our right a fence line and ancient hedge row. When the field boundary turns right we start ascending, our sights set on the ancient settlement that once adorned the fell top.

The many bumps and mounds visible ascending this field are actually ant hills, hundreds of them. We passed what looked like an old quarry, then part of what may have been a circular ditch, ringing the hill top. At a large grove ringed by a dry stone wall we stopped to admire the amazing views, out to Morecambe Bay including Arnside and it's Knott, behind us across the Kent valley the many peaks, grassy ridge lines and steep slopes of the Howgill Fells, as we traversed the summit the snow capped hills of the Lake District tilted into view.

No sooner had we got up there then we were descending through another field full of ant hills, we entered woodland stepping into a small glade, the area has been cleared to provide a perfect enviroment for rare butterflies. We turned right allowing a muddy path to guide us along the edge of the wood, this soon descended depositing us in a field next to a gate allowing access to the tarmac lane linking Levens to Brigsteer. After turning right we followed the tarmac surface as far as Ashbank Lane and a welcoming finger-post inviting us to Sizergh. So to Sizergh it was, a stroll along a farm lane, where we met a couple of friends on almost the same walk, as is the popularity of this place. When the lane swung left the four of us passed through a gate into a narrow trod, this guided us between hedge rows and dry stone walls back to Sizergh Castle and journeys end.

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home.

Striding out through pastures behind Sizergh Castle looking to Sizergh Fell.

From the slopes of Sizergh Fell stunning vistas over the Kent valley, across the horizon the Middleton and Barbon High Fells.

Picking our way through a field of ant hills, viewing The Helm backed by the Howgill Fells.

I believe the snow capped hill is Red Screes, to the right Helsington Barrows the southern end of the Kendal scars.

Near the summit of Sizergh Fell drinking a wonderful panorama over the Kent valley.

Looking south, the upper reaches of Morecambe Bay and Arnside Knott.

The summit of Sizergh Fell with some rather threatening weather sweeping in over the Lakeland hills.

Not sure what this feature was, a ditch that once circled the hill top, or maybe just a quarry, I prefer the former, let the imagination run wild.

Nestled in the folds of the Kent valley, guarding what was once the main route north, the limestone pile of Sizergh Castle.

Viewing the blue/grey hills at the head of Langdale with little Lords Lot capturing the sun.

The limestone cliffs of Whitbarrow seen over Lyth Valley.

Soaking up views to Helsington Barrows before disappearing into woodland, out of shot to the left.

We,ve spent the past twenty minutes wandering through a heavy down pour, it's just stopped, I thought it appropriate to take a quick shot looking to Sizergh Fell before stepping back into the car park.

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